BAYELSA: BLOODY CLASHES AT APC PRIMARY AS INJURED ALAIBE REJECTS PROCESS…STORMS OUT OF VENUE WITH SUPPORTERS

BAYELSA: BLOODY CLASHES AT APC PRIMARY AS INJURED ALAIBE REJECTS PROCESS…STORMS OUT OF VENUE WITH SUPPORTERS

Posted by Sylvester on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 0

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The Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, venue ofthe All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary, was turned to abattle ground today as supporters of two leading governorship aspirants,Ndutimi Alaibe and Timipre Sylva engaged themselves in violent clashes whichleft scores, including Alaibe, injured.

It was a pathetic sight to see apolitical event reduced to a combat. Investigationsrevealed that trouble started when it was discovered by Alaibe and hissupporters that accredited delegates from Brass, the local government of hisarch-rival, Sylva, were far more than all delegates from the other localgovernments combined.


It was in a bid tochallenge what was seen as an anomaly by Alaibe and his supporters that aheated argument ensued resulting in a free- for- all fight between the opposingcamps. In theprocess, Alaibe and many others sustained injuries.

To demonstrate his angerand disapproval of the electoral process, Alaibe was also said to have stormedout of the venue with his supporters in protest. Further investigation showed that many of those who participated in the fracas wereordinarily not supposed to attend the primary because they were not delegates butcame as an organized party of thugs and militants on both sides of Alaibe andSylva to drum support for their respective choice of aspirants.

The bloody violence in which all manner of weapons were freely used, includingbroken bottles, cutlasses, knives and charms could have led to loss of livesexcept for the quick intervention of the police and other law enforcementagencies on ground.
Even asthe police used tear gas to repel elements seen as hired thugs, cultists andmilitants, a number of the victims loyal to Alaibe complained bitterly thatthey were stabbed by Sylva’s men.

All efforts by the Adams Oshiomhole committeeresponsible for the conduct of the primary election to save the day provedabortive as Alaibe, in company of his close associates, left the venue inobvious protest of the situation.
Many of his supporters were also seen joininghim in their mass exit from the Samson Siasia stadium venue.Alaibewas said to be getting ready to address a press conference on the issue latertoday.

Meanwhile,our findings also indicated that some of the governorship aspirants havestepped down for the former governor, Timipre Sylva. As at the time of filingthis report, Sylva was leading in the number of votes cast and likely to emerge winner.